Process for making morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide

ABSTRACT

##STR1## Morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide of formulae (I) is made by conjugation of a glucuronate ester and/or substituted glucuronate ester with morphine or substituted morphine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and in the absence of silver catalysts and barium hydroxide and other heavy metal derivatives.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/688,727, filed Jul. 31, 1996, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/192,281, filed Feb. 4, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,087, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT/GB92/01449 filed Aug. 4, 1992, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/659,047, filed Jun. 3, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,381, which is a continuation of PCT/GB94/02605 filed Nov. 29, 1994.

This invention relates to a process for making morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide.

The present invention also relates to morphine derivatives and in particular to derivatives of morphine-6-glucuronide.

Morphine and its known derivatives are opiates which have pain relief properties, and are therefore useful in the treatment of chronic and acute pain encountered in various indications in humans and other warm blooded animals. Certain known derivatives may also be used as antidotes in situations of abuse or overdose.

Some morphine derivatives are described in parent PCT applications numbers GB92/01449 filed Aug. 4, 1992, now WO 93/03051, published Feb. 18, 1993, and GB94/02605, filed Nov. 29, 1994, now WO 95/16050, published Jun. 15, 1995, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. These references also disclose a particularly advantageous, new process for the preparation of morphine derivatives which avoids the use of heavy metal salts. A particularly preferred morphine derivative therein is morphine-6-glucuronide.

Morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) is a metabolite of morphine in the human body and is a more powerful analgesic than morphine itself (R. Osborne et al., The Lancet, 1988, 828 and literature cited therein). It has previously been synthesized by H. Yoshimura et al., (Chem. Pharm. Bull., 1968, 16, 2114) and others e.g. (P-A Carrupt. et al., J. Med. Chem., 1991, 34, 1272) using the Koenigs-Knorr procedure whereby methyl (tri-O-acetyl-D-glucopyranosylbromide)uronate is synthesised (G. N. Bollenback et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1955, 77, 3310)and reacted with 3-acetylmorphine in the presence of silver carbonate in refluxing benzene. The final isolation of morphine-6-glucuronide requires liberating it from an insoluble barium salt prior to purification by recrystallisation (H. Yoshimura et al. Chem. Pharm. Bull., loc. cit. and P-A. Carrupt et al., J. Med. Chem., loc. cit.). Morphine-6-glucuronide is now required in substantial quantities for extensive biological and clinical evaluations. The trace amounts of heavy metals from the Koenigs-Knorr method of production can be very difficult to remove in the final product. Another problem associated with the Koenigs-Knorr reaction is that glycoside formation involves an unstable sugar derivative and a heterogenous reaction system which leads to variable yields of the conjugate and difficulties in purification when the synthesis of morphine-6-glucuronide is carried out on a larger scale.

Similar problems were encountered on producing morphine-3,6-diglucuronide. This compound is also of importance as a metabolite of morphine and its monoglucuronides.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.

It is the object of the present invention to provide new preparations of morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine-3,6-diglucuronide and their derivatives which use stable intermediates and avoid the Koenigs-Knorr procedure involving the use of heavy metal derivatives e.g. silver and barium reagents in the synthetic process.

The present invention also provides certain morphine-6-glucuronide analogues which provide particularly useful enhanced agonist opioid activity. Pharmaceutical compositions containing pharmaceutically effective amounts of the morphine-6-glucuronide analogues and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are also provided by the present invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a process for making morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide of the following formulae: ##STR2##

Wherein R¹, R² and R³ may be any of the following:

R¹ =alkyl, aryl, acyl, silyl, phosphate, sulphate, hydrogen or glycoside.

R² =glycoside esters.

R³ =alkyl, aryl, hydrogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen or (CH₂)_(n) X where X=NRR⁴, where n is an integer and R and R⁴ are alkyl, aryl or acyl, or X=alkoxy, aryloxy or halogen.

Positions 7,8 can be olefin as shown or dihydro-, dihydroxy-, hydroxyhalo-, epoxy-, dihalo-, hydrohalo-, hydrohydroxy-, or CXY (X,Y=halogen or hydrogen) adducts,

the method comprising the steps of conjugating a glucuronate ester and/or a substituted glucuronate ester with morphine or substituted morphine using acid catalysis to yield the morphine glucuronate derivative, followed by replacement of R¹ (of formula 1) by hydrogen and ester hydrolysis of the glucuronate at R² (of formula 1).

Preferably R¹, R² and R³ of the morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide are present in one of the following combinations:

    ______________________________________                                         R.sup.1    R.sup.2           R.sup.3                                           ______________________________________                                         H          β-D-glucuronyl                                                                              methyl                                              β-D-glucuronyl β-D-glucuronyl methyl                                 acetyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                             glucuronate                                                                   benzoyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                            glucuronate                                                                   H methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                  glucuronate                                                                   .sup.t butyldimethylsllyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                      glucuronate                                       Isobutyryl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                         glucuronate                                                                   plvalyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triplvalyl) methyl                               glucuronate                                                                   pivalyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                            glucuronate                                                                   methyl β-D-(2,3,4- acetyl methyl                                          triacetyl)glucuronate                                                          methyl β-D-(2,3,4- methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triacetyl) methyl                                           triacetyl)glucuronate glucuronate                  methyl β-D-(2,3,4- methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                       triisobutyryl) glucuronate                         glucuronate                                                                    methyl glucuronic acid methyl                                                  H glucuronic acid methyl, → O                                           H glucuronic acid (CH.sub.2).sub.n X                                             where                                                                          X = NRR.sup.4, R                                                               and R4 being                                                                   H, alkyl, aryl or                                                              acyl; OR or                                                                    halogen                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The morphine or substituted morphine may comprise the following formula: ##STR3## wherein positions 7,8 can be olefin as shown or dihydro-, dihydroxy-, hydroxyhalo-, epoxy-, dihalo-, hydrohalo-, hydrohydroxy-, or CXY (X,Y=halogen or hydrogen) adducts, and

wherein R¹, R² and R³ may be any of the following combinations:

    ______________________________________                                         R.sup.1          R.sup.2    R.sup.3                                            ______________________________________                                         H                H          methyl                                               acyl H alkyl                                                                   silyl H alkyl                                                                  alkyl H alkyl                                                                  aralkyl H alkyl                                                              ______________________________________                                    

The glucuronate esters and substituted glucuronate esters may comprise the following formulae: ##STR4## Wherein R¹ =alky or aryl,

R² =acyl, silyl, alkyl, benzyl or aryl and

X=O-acyl, OC(NH)CCl₃, OC(NH)C(halogen)₂ R, hydroxyl, inorganic ester, e.g. phosphate or sulphate derivatives or halogen.

These compounds can be prepared by adapting the procedure given in the specific examples of the present application.

The glucuronate esters and substituted glucuronate esters preferably comprise the following formulae: ##STR5## wherein R¹, R² and X comprise any of the following:

    ______________________________________                                         R.sup.1      R.sup.2     X                                                     ______________________________________                                         methyl       acetyl      Br                                                      alkyl acyl O- acyl                                                             alkyl acyl OH                                                                  alkyl acyl O-C(NH)-CCl.sub.3                                                   methyl acetyl α-Cl                                                       methyl acetyl β-Cl                                                        methyl Isobutyryl β-O-Isobutyryl                                          methyl Isobutyryl α-O-Isobutyryl                                         methyl Isobutyryl OH (α/β)                                          methyl Isobutyryl α-OH                                                   methyl Isobutyryl α-O-C(NH) CCl.sub.3                                    methyl Isobutyryl Br (α/β)                                          methyl plvalyl β-O-plvalyl                                                methyl benzoyl (α/β)-O-benzoyl                                    ______________________________________                                    

These compounds can be prepared by adapting the procedure given in the specific examples of the present application.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the phenolic group of the morphine-6-glucuronide or substituted morphine-6-glucuronide esters is protected. The protected esters may then be isolated. This is followed by alkaline or enzymatic hydrolysis or removal of silyl protecting groups using fluoride for example.

The process of the present invention avoids the use of barium hydroxide and other heavy metals in the synthesis.

This invention uses D-glucurono-6,3-lactone which is converted to esters of tetra-O-acyl-β-D-glucopyranuronates 2 (where the acyl group could include acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, pivalyl, and other esters of organic acids as well as inorganic esters). The product could then be condensed directly in the presence of a catalyst such as trimethylsilyl triflate or a Lewis acid, with morphine or a derivative whereby the phenolic OH group is protected, e.g. as a silyl, alkyl or aryl ether group or alternatively with an acyl group such as acetyl, benzoyl, isobutyryl, pivalyl and esters of other-organic acid as well as inorganic esters. After condensation, protecting groups can be removed by hydrolysis or other selective cleavage. An alternative method of synthesis involves the selective cleavage at position 1 of the ester tetra-O-acyl-β-D-glucopyranuronate (X of formula 2 is O-acyl) to give the corresponding hemiacetal (X is OH) followed by formation of the imidate (X is OC(NH)CCl₃ using for example trichloroacetonitrile in the presence of potassium carbonate or other group I metal carbonates rather than the sodium hydride previously used for such transformations of sugar esters. (R. R. Schmidt, Angew., Chem., Int.Ed. Engl. 1986, 25, 212). Condensation of the imidate in the presence of a Lewis acid, e.g boron trifluoride etherate with either morphine or a suitably protected derivative at position 3 leads to successful glycoside formation. Alternatively the hemiacetal itself can be used or converted to derivatives with other good leaving groups at C-1 for glycoside formation under acid catalysis.

The present invention has been used to produce a large number of new compounds. These compounds include morphine-6-glucuronide derivatives of the following formula: ##STR6## Wherein Positions 7, 8 can be olefin as shown or dihydro-, dihydroxy-, hydroxyhalo-, epoxy-, dihalo-, hydrohalo-, hydrohydroxy-, or CXY (X,Y=halogen or hydrogen). adducts, and

Wherein R¹, R² and R³ may be any of the following combinations:

    ______________________________________                                         R.sup.1    R.sup.2           R.sup.3                                           ______________________________________                                         acetyl     methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl)                                                            methyl                                               glucuronate                                                                   benzoyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                            glucuronate                                                                   H methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                  glucuronate                                                                   .sup.t butyldimethylsilyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                      glucuronate                                       Isobutyryl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                         glucuronate                                                                   plvalyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triplvalyl) methyl                               glucuronate                                                                   pivalyl methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                            glucuronate                                                                   methyl β-D-(2,3,4- acetyl methyl                                          triacetyl)glucuronate                                                          methyl β-D-(2,3,4- H methyl                                               triisobutyryl)                                                                 glucuronate                                                                    methyl β-D-(2,3,4- methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triacetyl) methyl                                           triacetyl)glucuronate glucuronate                  methyl β-D-(2,3,4- methyl β-D-(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) methyl                                       triisobutyryl) glucuronate                         glucuronate                                                                    Isobutyryl H methyl                                                            plvalyl H methyl                                                               H glucuronic acid methyl, → O                                           H glucuronic acid (CH.sub.2).sub.n X                                             where                                                                          X = NRR.sup.4, R                                                               and R4 being                                                                   H, alkyl, aryl or                                                              acyl; OR or                                                                    halogen                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The process of the invention has also utilised a large number of new sugars of the following formulae: ##STR7## Wherein R¹, R² and X may be any of the following combinations:

    ______________________________________                                         R.sup.1     R.sup.2    X                                                       ______________________________________                                         methyl      isobutyryl β-isobutyryl                                         methyl isobutyryl α-isobutyryl                                           methyl isobutyryl OH (α/β)                                          methyl isobutyryl α-OH                                                   methyl isobutyryl α-trichloroacetyl imidoyl                              methyl isobutyryl Br (α/β)                                        ______________________________________                                    

As specified previously these compounds can be prepared by adapting the procedure given for the specific examples of the present application.

It has now been found that certain morphine-6-glucuronide analogues that are saturated in the 7 and 8 positions exhibit particularly useful enhanced agonist opioid activity. In embodiments of the invention the morphine-6-glucuronide derivative may be a compound where R¹ is hydrogen, R² is β-D glucuronyl, and R³ is methyl, and where positions 7,8 are dihydro-, dihydroxy-, hydroxyhalo-, epoxy-, dihalo-, hydrohalo-, hydrohydroxy-, or CXY (X,Y is halogen or hydrogen) adducts. Preferably positions 7,8 are dihydro.

According to the present invention, there is provided a morphine-6-glucuronide analogue having the formula 1-(7,8-dihydromorphin-6-yl)-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (I), and acid addition and metal salts thereof. ##STR8##

In the morphine structure (II) below, a number of sites are capable of substitution and modification. For example, the ester substituent at position 6 may be pyranose, furanose and uronic acid derivatives thereof; the substituent at the cyclic nitrogen may be for example, hydrogen, lower alkyl (C₁ to C₈), substituted lower alkyl in which the substituents may be aryl, such as for example phenyl, carboxylic acid and esters thereof, and cycloalkyl, for example, cyclopropyl, and N-oxide; the phenolic group may also be alkylated or esterified. ##STR9##

According to the present invention, it has been found that the morphine derivative, wherein the nitrogen substituent is methyl, the ether substituent at position 6 is derived from glucuronic acid, and the ethylenic bond bridging position 7- and 8- is hydrogenated, has enhanced opioid agonist activity compared to morphine in that it has a higher affinity for the opioid analgesia receptor (μ₁), and increased anti-nociceptive activity in an animal pain model, as detailed in Table 1 below.

The compounds of the present invention may be in the form of an acid addition salt, such as for example sulphate, hydrochloride, acetate, maleate, tartrate, citrate; and it may be in the form of an alkali metal or alkaline earth salt, such as for example sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium. The compounds may also be in the form of a hydrate or solvate.

The present invention includes the compounds of the present invention in any crystalline form.

The compound of formula I of the present invention may conveniently be prepared by the following route starting from morphine sulphate.

1. Protection of the 3-phenolic group by acylation.

2. Protection of the hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups of D-glucuronolactone.

3. Condensation of the products of 1 and 2 above.

4. Removal of the protecting groups of the condensation product 3 to yield morphine-6-glucuronide.

5. Hydrogenation of morphine-6-glucuronide to yield the product of the present invention.

Other compounds wherein positions 7 and 8 are saturated may be made in similar manner by addition reactions, such as dihalogenation, involving the unsaturated 7,8 position of the morphine-6-glucuronide obtained in step 4.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered by any convenient parenteral route. The dose may be varied as required, but will generally, for example, be in the range 0.01 mg/kg to 0.30 mg/kg for patients starting on a strong analgesic, and may be administered continuously, for example, intravenously or subcutaneously.

The present invention is described in more detail by way of the following non-limiting examples wherein all parts, percentages and ratios are by weight and all temperatures are in °C. unless otherwise indicated:

EXAMPLES Preparation of 3-acetylmorphine (1; R¹ =Ac, R² =H, R³ =Me)

To a stirred suspension of morphine (4 g, 14 mmol) in 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate (377 ml) was added acetic anhydride (19 ml) over 8.5 minutes. 15 minutes after the addition, ice cold water (300 ml) was added and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane (200 ml). The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over Na₂ SO₄, and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave a sticky white residue. Trituration with ether gave 3-acetylmorphine (3.68 g, 80%). The corresponding 3-pivalyl, 3-isobutyryl, 3-propionyl and other 3-acyl derivatives of morphine were also prepared.

Preparation of 3-tert-butyldimethylsilylmorphine (TBDMS-morphine)

To a stirred suspension of anhydrous morphine (7.01 mmol) at -78° C. in anhydrous THF (15 ml) was added 1.6M butyllithium (4.8 ml, 0.492 g, 7.68 mmol) over 8 minutes. 42 minutes later, a solution of TBDMS chloride (1.27 g, 8.43 mmol) in anhydrous THF (10 ml) was added over 10 minutes. The mixture was left to warm up gradually to room temperature overnight by which time all the material had gone into solution. Water was then added to the mixture which was extracted with dichloromethane several times. The organic extracts were combined, washed with brine, dried over Na₂ SO₄, filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave an off-white film. Chromatography over silica using CH₂ Cl₂ /MeOH (5:1) as eluent afforded the product as a white solid (1.58 g, 56%). Recrystallisation from Et₂ O/petrol (boiling point 40-60°) gave white crystalline needles (1.37 g), m.p.=120-122° C.

Preparation of methyl 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-pivalylglucuronate.

To a suspension of glucuronolactdne (10 g, 57 mmol) in MeOH (53 ml) was added NaOMe powder (13 mg). The mixture was left to stir overnight by which time all material had gone into solution. The solvent was removed in vacuo to leave a brown residue, which was dissolved in pyridine (34 ml) and dichloromethane (35 ml) and then cooled to 0° C. Pivalyl chloride (63 ml, 61.66 g, 0.511 mmol) was then added over 2 hours keeping the reaction temperature below 15° C. The mixture was allowed to warm up gradually to room temperature overnight. More dichloromethane was then added, the mixture was washed with 1M HCl (5×40ml), sodium bicarbonate (5×50ml), and brine before drying over Na₂ SO₄, filtering and evaporating to leave a pale coloured residue. Addition of petrol (boiling point 40-60°) and subsequent cooling in the refrigerator afforded a white solid which was filtered, washed with more petrol (boiling point 40-60°) and dried in a vacuum oven at 40° C. (25 mm Hg) to give the product (9.66 g, 32%) as white crystals, m.p. 149° C. The corresponding isobutyrate was made by an analogous procedure.

Preparation of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetylglucuronate (2, R¹ =Me, R² =Ac, X=OH).

Ammonia gas pre-dried by passing it through a bed of sodium hydroxide was bubbled through dichloromethane (200 ml) at -4° C. over 1 hour at a rate which kept the temperature below 0° C. The sugar acetate (R¹ =Me, R² =Ac, X=OAc) (6 g, 16 mmol) was added to this solution which was stirred at 0° C. for 3.5 hours and then left to stand at room temperature. After 6 hours nitrogen gas was bubbled through the yellow solution for 5 minutes and the mixture left to stand for a further 9.5 hours. By this time some brown gummy material had been deposited and t.l.c. on silica (1:1, petrol (boiling point 40-60°)/EtOAc) indicated that no starting material was left. Nitrogen gas was then bubbled through the solution for 20 minutes and the solution was extracted with ice-cold 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid, then water. After the two phases had been separated, the organic layer was dried (Na₂ SO₄), filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave the crude product (3.83 g) as a white foam. This product is a mixture of α and β anomers which can be crystallised from chloroform/petrol (boiling point 40-60°). TLC: Rf=0.3 (1.1 petrol (boiling point 40-60°)/EtOAc).IR: 3670-3120, 2940, 1710, 1440 cm⁻¹.

The corresponding isobutyrate was made in a similar way.

Preparation of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-O-(trichloroacetimidoyl)-α-D-glucuronate (2; R¹ =Me, R² =Ac, X=OC(NH)CCl₃)

To a solution of the preceding hemiacetal (2.8 g, 8.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 ml) at room temperature was added trichloroacetonitrile (4.4 ml, 6.39 g, 43.9 mmol) and the solution stirred for 10 minutes. Potassium carbonate was then added and within minutes the mixture started to get darker. After 30 hours it was filtered through a short pad of silica, eluting with ether. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product as a sticky pale yellow solid (3.7 g, 93%) which was recrystallised from isopropanol as white crystals (3.1 g). m.p.=107-108°

TLC: Rf=0.52 (1:1 petrol (boiling point 40-60°)/EtOAc) IR: 3320, 2980, 1720, 1680 cm⁻¹ ; δ (CDCl₃ : 8.76 (1H,bs,HN); 6.63 (1H,d,J=3.5 Hz,1-H); 5.63 (1H,t,J=9.7 Hz,4-H); 5.27 (1H,t,J=9.7 Hz,3-H); 5.15 (1H,dd,J=3.5,9.7 Hz,2-H); 4.49 (1H,d,J=9.7 Hz,5-H); 3.75 (3H,s,CO₂ Me); 2.05 (6H,s,Ac); 2.03 (3H,s,Ac)

The corresponding isobutyrate was made in a similar way.

Preparation of methyl 3-acetylmorphine-6-(2'3'4'-tri-isobutyryl)glucuronate.

3-Acetylmorphine (0.372 g, 1.14 mmol) dried by azeotroping with benzene was dissolved in dry dichloromethane (4 ml), the tri-isobutyryl imidate (2; X=OC(NH)CCl₃, R¹ =Me, R² =COPr^(i)) (1.28 g, 2.28 mmol) and BF₃.Et₂ O (28 μl, 0.0323 g, 2.28 mmol) and 4A molecular sieves added. After stirring at room temperature overnight the mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with sodium bicarbonate, water and brine, dried over Na₂ SO₄ and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave a pale brown residue (1.53 g). This was chromatographed over silica (40 g) using CHCl₃ /MeOH (40:1 to 9:1) as eluent to afford the product (0.52 g, 63%) which can be recrystallised from absolute EtOH as off-white crystals, m.p.=188-189° C.

Preparation of morphine-6-glucuronide.

To a solution of the above glucuronate in MeOH (24 ml) was added 5% aqueous NaOH (6 ml) and the mixture was left to stir for 20 hours. T.l.c (n-BuOH/acetone/AcOH/5% aq.NH₃ /water 45:15:10:10:20) showed that there were two components one of which was M6G and the other morphine. The solution was transferred to a beaker and was acidified with glacial acetic acid (7 ml) which took the pH of the mixture to 5.5. Shortly after this pH was reached (5 minutes), a white solid started to precipitate. The suspension was stirred for a further 30 minutes, the solid filtered and washed with MeOH, and morphine-6-glucuronide (0.4 g, 52%) was obtained after drying at 120° C. for 4 hours, m.p. 240-243° C. More M6G could be obtained by cooling the filtrate.

Preparation of dimethyl morphine-3,6-di (2,3,4-triisobutyryl)glucuronate.

To a stirred suspension of morphine 7.02 mmol), the triisobutyryl imidate (2) (R¹ =Me, R² =COPr^(i), X=OC(NH)CCl₃) (15.79 g, 28.08 mml) and 4A molecular sieves in dichloromethane (40 ml) at room temperature under argon was added BF₃.Et₂ O (3.53 ml, 3.98 g, 28.08 mmol). After only 15 minutes virtually all of the starting material had gone into solution, which was left to stir for 2 days. The solution was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with sodium bicarbonate, water, brine and dried over Na₂ SO₄. Filtration and evaporation afforded reddish brown gummy crystals. Chromatography over silica (225 g) using CHCl₃ /MeOH (40:1-9:1) as eluent gave crude diglucuronate which was crystallised by trituration with EtOH. After filtration and drying the dimethyl morphine-3,6-di(2,3,4-triisobutyryl) glucuronate (4.3 g), m.p.229-230°, was obtained. The filtrate was cooled in a refrigerator to afford a second crop of product (277 mg).

C,H,N analysis: Found: C, 60.6; H, 6.9; N, 1.3; C₅₅ H₇₅ NO₂₁ requires C, 60.8; H, 6.9; N, 1.3.

Preparation of morphine-3,6-diglucuronide.

To a stirred suspension of the above dimethyl morphine-3,6-diglucuronate (2 g, 1.84 mmol) in MeOH (60 ml) was added 5% aqueous NaOH (10.3 ml). Most of the solid went into solution after 15 minutes and the mixture was left to stir overnight. The clear solution was then acidified with glacial acetic acid to pH6 and the resulting precipitate was filtered and washed with MeOH. Drying at 60° under high vacuum gave crude morphine-3,6-diglucuronide (0.92 g) which was recrystallised from hot water/MeOH, m.p. 243-244° (dec.)

Preparation of 1-(7,8-Dihydromorphin-6-yl)-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic Acid.

Morphine-6-glucuronide (2.00 g, 4.02 mmol), may be prepared as described above or in PCT application numbers GB92/01449 and GB94/02605, and is then suspended in 1:1 aq. methanol (40 ml) and hydrogenated in a Parr apparatus in the presence of 10% Pd-C (0.4 g). After 2 hours, when uptake appeared complete, the mixture was filtered through celite and the precipitate washed well with the same solvent. The combined filtrate and washings were evaporated to a thick gum (2.1 g) which was dissolved in warm water (10 ml), diluted to 50 ml with warm methanol and filtered. After cooling the colorless prisms were filtered off, washed with methanol and dried to give the product (1.86 g, 93% in two crops), m.p. >260° C. (dec) (Found: C,55.7; H,7.3; N2.5. C₂₃ H₂₉ NO₉.CH₃ OH.H₂ O requires C, 56.1; H, 6.8; N 2.7%); δ (D₂ O), inter alia, 0.90 (1 H, s), 1.83 (1 H, m), 2.05, (1 H dt), 2.35 (1 H, m), 2.82 (3 H, s), 3.57 (1 H, d), 3.80 (1 H, m), 4.12 (1 H, m), 4.47 (1 H, d), 4.86 (1 H, d), 6.65 and 6.74 (2 H, 2 d); m/z (E.I.) 463 (M+). HPLC area purity 99.6%.

The 7,8 saturated compound of the invention was compared with morphine analogues which were unsaturated in the 7 and 8 position for (μ₁) receptor binding activity and antinociceptive activity. The compounds (1-6) and the results are presented in Table I:

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                          (II)                                                                           1  STR10##                                   -                                                                                                    Invivo antino                                            μ.sub.1 Receptor‡ ciceptive                                     Substituents binding (A.U.C.)*                                               Cmpd                                                                               nitrogen                                                                           C6    C7-C8                                                                              μ.sub.1                                                                            1 mg                                                                              2 mg                                                                               4 mg                                                                              8 mg                                        __________________________________________________________________________     1   methyl                                                                             OH    unsat                                                                              1.0    197.3                                                                             241.4                                                                              738.3                                            2 methyl glucuronide unsat 1.88  209.6 618.1                                   3 methyl Δ.sup.4,5- unsat 1.73  205.0 168.5 175.5                          glucuronide                                                                  4 methyl riburonide unsat 2.06   238.1 68.3                                    5 H glucuronide unsat 1.26  65.6 564.8 837.9                                   6 methyl glucuronide hydrog- 0.32 277.4 720.4 753.3                               enated                                                                    __________________________________________________________________________      ‡IC.sub.50 relative to morphine. The IC.sub.50 is the amount o      compound which displaces 50% of a labelled competitive ligand from             μ.sub.1 binding sites.                                                      *A.U.C. = area under the time  effect curve.                             

In Table 1, compound 1 is morphine, compound 2 is morphine-6-glucuronide, and compound 6 is the compound (I) of the present invention. Compounds 3 and 4 were prepared by a method analogous to that described above for compound 6; compound 5 required removal of the N-methyl group prior to hydrolysis of the protecting groups.

The results in Table 1 show that the compound (I) of the present invention (compound 6) has the greatest binding affinity to the relevant receptor (μ₁) (lowest IC₅₀ value relative to morphine), and has the greatest potency in an in-vivo model system of antinociceptive activity.

It is to be understood that the above described examples are by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible. 

We claim:
 1. A compound of the following formula (I): ##STR11## wherein positions 7, 8 is dihydro-, dihydroxy-, hydroxyhalo-, epoxy-, dihalo-, hydrohalo-, hydrohydroxy-, or CXY (X,Y is halogen or hydrogen) adducts.
 2. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein positions 7, 8 is dihydro.
 3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula I: ##STR12## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 4. A method for the treatment of chronic or acute pain, or a morphine overdose comprising administering to an animal or human patient in need thereof a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: ##STR13##
 5. A process for making a compound of the formula (I): comprising:(a) protecting the 3-phenolic group of morphine sulfate by acylation, (b) protecting the hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups of D-glucuronolactone. (c) condensing the products of steps (a) and(b), (d) removing the protecting groups of the condensation product obtained in step(c) to yield morphine-6-glucuronide, and (e) hydrogenating the morphine-6-glucuronide. 